by George Whittaker


Introduction

A filesystem is a fundamental component of any operating system. It is the system that manages how data is stored and retrieved on a storage device. In the world of Linux, filesystems play a crucial role in the organization and efficiency of data handling. With several types of filesystems available, understanding their underlying structures and functions is essential for anyone working with Linux, whether you're a system administrator, developer, or an enthusiast.


This article aims to provide an understanding of some of the critical concepts within Linux filesystems: inodes, block sizes, and data structures, as well as to how these elements work together to manage and organize data efficiently in a Linux environment.


Basics of Linux Filesystems

A filesystem is a method and data structure that an operating system uses to control how data is stored and retrieved. Without a filesystem, data placed in a storage medium would be one large block with no way to tell where one piece of data ends and the next begins. By separating the data into individual pieces and giving each piece a name, the data is easily isolated and identified. More precisely, a filesystem manages the following:

• Space management: It keeps track of which areas of the storage device are free and which are in use.
• File naming: It allows files to be named and organized into directories.
• Data access: It provides methods for reading and writing data.
• Data integrity: It ensures data is stored reliably and can be recovered in case of failure.

There are several types of filesystems used in Linux, each with its features and advantages:



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